Progress and challenges surrounding CAADP

Dr. Washington Ochola of Africa Lead made a presentation on behalf of the Africa Union on “Overview of CAADP and Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods.” He said it was up to governments to make the environment conducive, but it was up to other actors to contribute to agricultural reform in Africa. “ The CAADP framework is meant to accelerate economic growth; eliminate hunger; reduce poverty; enhance food and nutrition security; and enable expansion of exports,” he said, adding that this was an Africa owned and led process.

According to World Bank predictions, African urban food markets are set to increase four times to exceed US$400 billion in 2030. Africa has the potential to increase the value of its annual agricultural output from $250 billion in 2013 to $800 billion by 2030.However, CAADP in the past tens years has had some challenges. Projections show that under our current production levels, only 13 per cent of what Africa needs would be produced in 2050. Crop yield levels are stagnant and low while vulnerable and disadvantaged populations are not included. Hunger and malnutrition is still prevalent and most of the production is under subsistence farming. Despite Africa having an extremely strong economic growth, it was still the most food insecure continent.Ochola said the overall budgetary allocation to agriculture has been declining in Kenya.